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Ex-DOJ Lawyer Calls for Hunter’s Pardon

Posted November 29, 2024

Matt Insley

By Matt Insley

Ex-DOJ Lawyer Calls for Hunter’s Pardon

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Maybe you’ve had your fill of turkey… Or you might already have a hankering for a turkey sandwich. (With a schmear of cranberry sauce? Nothing better!)

Whatever the case may be, settle in with a second cup of coffee — maybe a slice of pumpkin pie, too — and get ready for another White House-has-gone-to-the-animals mashup.

On Monday, President Joe Biden carried out his final turkey pardoning ceremony, a quirky tradition that has become a staple of Thanksgiving at the White House.

This year, the fortunate turkeys, named Peach and Blossom, hail from Minnesota. As is tradition, the pair spent Sunday night in a luxury suite at D.C.’s Willard Intercontinental Hotel (a.k.a. the “residence of presidents”).

John Zimmerman, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, claims the turkeys underwent extensive training to prepare for their public debut.

Courtesy: X
On their best behavior: National Turkey Federation
lobbyists

After their pardoning, both birds will now retire as agricultural ambassadors at Farmamerica in Southern Minnesota.

As for the ceremony itself, Biden stood on the South Lawn surrounded by an audience, where he quipped: “I’ve been told there are 2,500 people here today… all hoping for a pardon.”

No word on whether Hunter Biden was in attendance. (Hold that thought.)

The origins of this turkey tradition are especially murky…

According to legend, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln is said to have spared a turkey — that was destined for the dinner table — at the request of his son, Tad.

However, it wasn't until 1947 that the National Turkey Federation began presenting a turkey to the president each year.

Harry S. Truman, in fact, was the first president to receive two live turkeys. Pragmatic to the core, he famously did not spare them from becoming Christmas dinner.

In 1987, it was Ronald Reagan who first jokingly suggested he’d “pardon” a turkey… while he dodged questions from reporters about the Iran-Contra scandal.

The turkey pardoning solidified in 1989 as an official White House event during George H.W. Bush's presidency.

While we’re on the topic, there's an outcry for President Biden to grant his son Hunter a pardon or commutation — namely, from former DOJ prosecutor Ankush Khardori at Politico.

Despite Biden's pronouncement this year that he would not intervene on his son’s behalf, at this point, what's the worst that could happen? Impeachment, with just 52 days left until Inauguration Day?

What do you think will happen next, reader? Drop your predictions here, and we’ll see who’s got the most accurate crystal ball.

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